[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world":3,"chapter-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-183":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Cultivation: I Studied Abroad in the Modern World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263909,4418,"Chapter 183: Cooperation","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-183",183,"\u003Cp>Inside the Grand Zizai Demon Cult’s secret realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian led his remaining forces back in disarray, his robes shredded by heavenly lightning, revealing patches of black and white skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back at the others, he felt even more stifled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around forty disciples had set out together, but fewer than ten had returned to the secret realm, all wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the dead had been under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the lives of the Holy Cult’s disciples were worthless, these men under him were the ones he had trained for years—whether their strength was great or not, at least they suited his taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing so many underlings in such a short time inevitably pained him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, the Golden Core disciple who had been so confident earlier looked no better—he had a streak of blood at the corner of his mouth, not his own, but that of a Holy Cult Foundation Establishment disciple who had dared block his escape at the realm’s gate, cut cleanly in half by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Lin Yangtian had to admit it was precisely because this senior brother acted so decisively that the Foundation Establishment disciples, who had forgotten their place, cleared a path, allowing the two of them to flee the torrent of thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do we do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged glances, both troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine Mountains Sect’s audacity to block the gate had caught them off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, they truly couldn’t get out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These Nine Mountains Sect people… are too treacherous!” muttered a nearby disciple through gritted teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were only inside the Lei Chi, though our strength would be suppressed, our Holy Cult’s numbers would still overwhelm those Nine Mountains disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the secret realm’s gate, designed to keep out enemies, restricts entry and exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gave the numerically inferior Nine Mountains disciples the advantage of outnumbering us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the Lei Chi, a single secret realm gate couldn’t hold us back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We wouldn’t even need a Nascent Soul from our sect—just the two of us, Golden Core, could wipe out that enemy force, all Foundation Establishment at most…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with both factors combined, we feel utterly helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stared at each other, unsure what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the group was at a loss, a weary voice came from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked up to see an old man with half-white, half-black hair and a withered face hovering above them, his expression dark with displeasure: “The Cult ordered you to attack the Nine Mountains Sect—why have you not moved?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Chi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian and the other bowed hastily—they clearly sensed his cultivation was higher than theirs, likely a Nascent Soul True Person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They explained their current situation with gloomy faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nine Mountains Sect…” Senior Brother Chi’s eyes flickered with a mysterious symbol as he gazed toward the gate: “Bold! A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators dares to bully our Holy Cult so!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were the Five Sects of Xuanwei, blocking the gate would be acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what is Nine Mountains Sect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send more people out! Let me see what they’re relying on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother Chi suddenly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian and the other glanced at each other, then at their nearby subordinates—all faces filled with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Unwilling? Then you two go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian’s heart tightened—he selected two disciples and gestured for them to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two’s faces were ashen, but they dared not defy orders, trembling as they stepped out of the secret realm gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they reached the threshold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a rain of thunder talismans fell from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They died cleanly—almost with a sense of humanitarian grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul-Piercing Talisman, Soul-Shaking Talisman, Soul-Annihilating Talisman…” Senior Brother Chi muttered, frowning: “Each of them was struck by at least thirty or forty talismans—all of them Xuan-grade. Is the Nine Mountains Sect this wealthy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian and the other exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They too were puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They understood market prices—this barrage of talismans alone must have cost dozens of spirit stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purely burning money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stared at the two corpses lying at the secret realm gate; seeing no one else emerge, he signaled two senior brothers nearby to drag the bodies to the rear “Weapon Production Factory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Zheng, I never expected the Talisman Seal Art to be so effective here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We make Xuan-grade talismans ourselves—only three or five a day, draining our spiritual power and soul essence,” nodded another senior brother. “Buying them isn’t cheap either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, one spirit stone buys three or five,” sighed Sun Daoyu, then mentally calculated the cost of talisman production: “But making Xuan-grade talismans with the Seal Art is not only faster—it’s cheaper—only the cost of talisman paper and spirit ink! When you add it up, it’s even cheaper than Huang-grade talismans!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t quite that simple—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least the lives of the Grand Zizai Demon Cult disciples were also a cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was undeniably effective here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty or fifty Xuan-grade talismans could yield a Grand Zizai disciple who died heroically for the Talisman Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rounded off, it was practically free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this process didn’t drain the spiritual power or soul essence of these senior brothers—it was extremely practical on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was practically the Grand Zizai Demon Cult’s nemesis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re using our Holy Cult disciples to make talismans?” Inside the gate, Senior Brother Chi’s eyes seemed to see Zheng Fa’s actions—he flew into a rage, his hair standing on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian suddenly understood: “So that’s why the Lei Chi marketplace was buying our Holy Cult disciples’ blood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group exchanged glances, all faces grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Nine Mountains Sect… their methods are oddly similar to ours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian heard a subordinate mutter this, and couldn’t help but agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing with corpses, blood-refining magic treasures—they were masters!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now they were trapped inside by imitators from the Nine Mountains Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother, if we send more people out now, we won’t kill these bandits—we’ll just give them more talismans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Brother Chi fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, he suddenly roared: “Damn it, this Nine Mountains Sect is so fucking disgusting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I finally understand why everyone hates our Holy Cult!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yangtian froze, almost involuntarily nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered how he’d always found the righteous sects disgusting—yet never felt anything himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the roles were reversed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even they felt their past actions had been excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa stared at the Grand Zizai Demon Cult’s secret realm gate; they had clearly discovered the Talisman Art, and no one dared show themselves again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed they had truly trapped the Grand Zizai Demon Cult inside the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Zheng, we’ve really pissed off the Grand Zizai Demon Cult now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Daoyu, clearly realizing this, frowned in concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother, whether we offend them or not—we have no choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa knew full well that once the Talisman Art was exposed, the Nine Mountains Sect and the Grand Zizai Demon Cult were locked in a death struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was— they had already sharpened their knives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Talisman Art now targets only the Grand Zizai Demon Cult; though its methods are strange, others won’t care too much—perhaps just wonder where we got the source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for crushing the Grand Zizai Demon Cult to death—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, unless the Nine Mountains Sect gives up the Lei Chi, surrenders its spirit vein, and sacrifices Sister Zhang’s life—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is no path to reconciliation with the Grand Zizai Demon Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sun Daoyu still frowning, Zheng Fa shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Sun, the Talisman Art is a good thing—without it, we couldn’t have stopped those demonic disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! Why are you worried?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cheerful voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa turned to see Yan Wushuang and the other two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Yan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang bowed to Zheng Fa, but his gaze locked onto Li Nuo and the others: “So this is why your marketplace buys demonic blood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they’d been seen, Zheng Fa made no attempt to hide it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder… no wonder…” Yan Wushuang sighed twice: “Your Nine Mountains Sect is incredibly wealthy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Li Nuo truly has brilliant ingenuity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no, no—I meant the wealth's 'wealth'!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang’s eyes sparkled, his tone brimming with excitement: \"Brother Zheng, can I join in on this business?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa suddenly remembered—the man had once said he was poor...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the seal inscriptions are a secret of the Nine Mountains Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, Yan Wushuang can’t contribute anything meaningful to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zheng Fa didn’t dislike the man, he saw no need to involve him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his hesitation, Yan Wushuang added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t take your profits for free. First, I can supply the seal paper and spirit ink.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zheng Fa swallowed his refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seal paper and spirit ink were now the biggest cost for the seals—even if their value was low, the production capacity had nearly run short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But honestly, these were minor details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Zheng Fa finally spoke: \"Brother Yan, it’s not that I refuse to cooperate with you—it’s just that this alone isn’t enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang’s origins were extraordinary, even somewhat mysterious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was still merely a True Disciple of the Heaven River Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to be nothing more than a Golden Core cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Partnering with him offered no clear future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wushuang seemed to sense Zheng Fa’s refusal. He glanced at him and said: \"You’re trying to block the Great Freedom Demon Cult from leaving, to ensure Zhang Wuyi’s Nascent Soul formation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you’re already too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa froze, then turned his gaze toward the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct. Several Nascent Soul members of the Great Freedom Demon Cult left Lei Chi days ago, preparing to strike at your senior uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa frowned tightly, yet showed no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shijie’s Nascent Soul formation had lasted for days—the Great Freedom Demon Cult wouldn’t have done nothing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already too late to block the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Dragon Heavenly Palace was inherently dangerous; Zheng Fa could only bring out the lower-cultivation disciples to reduce the burden on Senior Uncle Pang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no way to ensure Senior Uncle Pang’s safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Nascent Soul cultivators within Lei Chi were even more dangerous, and battles at that level were beyond his reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yan, are you suggesting...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I save your senior uncle’s life—in return, count me in on this business.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa turned his head and saw Sun Daoyu opening his mouth, as if wanting to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half the disciples here were Senior Uncle Pang’s people; they all stared at Zheng Fa, waiting for his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yan, if my senior uncle is unharmed, I accept your terms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1803,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b72077e3d286a2d29a800bb3874882d993496a94e69db9c4c76f02a5491350bb","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-184","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-182",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]